Watkins Glen, NY – June 18th to 22nd – IMSA Weekend
For 2025, Team Shelby Northeast is proud to announce we will be doing something we have daydreamed about for years…..we will be hosting our event at Watkins Glen International Raceway! ECGN-12 will leave its mark all over the New York Finger Lakes region, and you can be part of the damn fun as we celebrate Shelby American’s 60th Anniversary of winning the 1965 FIA World Championship.
We start our long weekend just south of Syracuse for a high performance driving event (HPDE) at a Pineview Run Auto & Country Club, a highly technical private “boutique” racetrack with more twists and turns than many larger tracks, including Watkins Glen itself. For the next three days our activities will be centered on the IMSA weekend taking place at The Glen. We will share space with Ford Performance, have exclusive parking in the Mustang Corral area, be invited to participate in pit tours, driver meet-n-greets, and touring laps on the historic Watkins Glen track. We will have a Poker Run / Road Tour. Visit a boat, as well as, an airplane museum. Stop in a winery…or two. Hike the Watkins Glen Gorge. Take a boat ride on Lake Seneca. Enjoy a few special dinners and lunches. Watch the races. Participate in a Ford Cars & Coffee and a Team Shelby exclusive car show. Maybe even attend a evening concert if you aren’t too tired from the day’s activities.
Our weekend begins with the now expected “unofficial” Kick-off on Wednesday evening. We are meeting at The Hog Wallow Tavern in Geneva, NY for drinks and dinner. Everyone is on their own tab as this is not included with registration, but all Team Shelby members and other attendees are invited to attend. In addition to what Hog Wallow has on its menu, we can also order from their sister restaurant, The Rusty Pig, who offer some taste tempting BBQ fare. I can taste the pulled pork and brisket already!
On Thursday morning, practice begins at Watkins Glen International for the IMSA Weekend. Your ticket will get you into the track to watch the action…..but for those Team Shelby members who prefer to “do” rather than “watch”, we have something special planned.
A group will be heading up to Pineview Run Auto & Country Club in Lafayette, NY for some on-track action of their own! Pineview Run is a private boutique track that caters to the discriminating automotive enthusiast, and we have the whole complex to ourselves!
At Pineview Run, it’s all about the corners…
The track is both physically and mentally challenging, and so they typically run 15-minute run groups. If that seems short, consider the following:
- A 15-minute session at Pineview is an out-lap, 9 hot laps, and an in-lap. That’s 135 corners at full pace, with only a couple seconds to rest each lap.
- A 30-minute session at Watkins Glen is an out-lap, 10 hot laps, and an in-lap. That’s 110 corners at full pace, with many long straights and opportunities to rest and recover.
Pineview Run is twice the workout in half the time! It is a very technical and exacting track with many elevation changes and blind corners to test your skills.
The track layout rewards corner speed, driving line, and finesse. Drivers in high-horsepower cars who are accustomed to mashing the brakes and throttle will need to learn new skills to turn a fast lap here. Conversely, drivers who are good at balancing a car on the threshold of traction will turn a fast lap no matter what car they’re in.
The original short-course track was designed to develop club programs, safety protocols, operational procedures and staff. They started with a low-speed course of 1.1 miles which is technical and includes tight turn radii. The new track design incorporates “bypasses” built into the existing short-track footprint, which bypass the three tightest turns, this leads to 7 different configurations to run including the all new large, “fast-track” course. This is a very exciting, fast and wide 0.7-mile section including even more elevation change than the front section with a whopping 268′ of elevation change, along with a 36-40′ track width, large turn radii and a beautiful blend of elevations & turn transitions to keep the speeds up and the rhythm smooth. This long loop, ending with a 40′ wide and 1400′ straight will surely provide an exhilarating drive.
There is no formal dinner planned for Thursday evening as our members will be spilt between the HPDE track event at Pineview, and watching IMSA practice at Watkins Glen International. Stop at any restaurant along the way back to your hotel, or you might rather head directly back to your hotel to get cleaned up first, then find a nearby place to eat in Geneva. There are lots of options and cuisines for you to choose from.
Friday again gives you the choice to spend the day at Watkins Glen International watching qualifying for both the Porsche Carrera Cup and the Lamborghini Super Trofeo races, then the actual initial races, and later in the afternoon qualifying for The Michelin Challenge TCR and GS race series…..or join us for the Team Shelby Poker Run & Road Tour!
The Poker Run & Road Tour will depart from the host hotel area in Geneva, and will end at our dinner location at 3 Brothers Winery in Geneva, NY. Please note this is an all day event and does not include any time at the track.
We will head south and take you along two of the Finger Lakes; Keuka, and Seneca. You will travel along the old historic Grand Prix course, composed of public roads around the Watkins Glen area, stop to visit the drivers walk of fame and the International Motorsports Research Center, and have the opportunity to hike the gorge and waterfall trail at Watkins Glen State Park (an ABSOLUTE must do! Just look at that photo below….WOW!!!).
Watkins Glen State Park is the most famous of the Finger Lakes State Parks, with a reputation for leaving visitors spellbound. Within two miles, the glen’s stream descends 400 feet past 200-foot cliffs, generating 19 waterfalls along its course. The gorge path winds over and under waterfalls and through the spray of Cavern Cascade. Rim trails overlook the gorge. You can hike the full trail up and back down the gorge, or hike half way and take a shuttle back to the parking area.
The group will then proceed to The Pleasant Valley Wine Company to take a tour and learn about American Champagne, participate in a tasting, and have lunch.
The Pleasant Valley Wine Company, located near the village of Hammondsport, NY, is the oldest winery in the Finger Lakes region. Established in 1860, the winery proudly displays the designation of U.S. Bonded Winery No. 1 and has eight remarkable stone buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Currently, Pleasant Valley has the capacity of over 14 million gallons at its 425,000 square foot facility along with 500 acres of vineyards. Besides their well known favorites, Pleasant Valley houses, bottles and stores wine for other wineries.
The afternoon begins with a drive to The Finger Lakes Boating museum. Their collection consists of about 200 boats built in the Finger Lakes region, of which, around 40 are on exhibit. In addition to boats, the museum houses a sizable display of boat motors and boating related ephemera.
Our last stop of the day is at Three Brothers Wineries & Estates for dinner and our evening program. This place is known as the Disneyland of winery’s, and you will find out why once you get there and start looking around at all the different environments the owner, who is a huge Performance Ford and Shelby fan, has built.
Maximize your escape from the grind with one stop. At Three Brothers they offer three unique wineries, a microbrewery and café all on one estate. With their expansive selection of hand-crafted wines, beers, hard ciders, and craft sodas there’s bound to be something for everyone who visits. Their priority is an exceptional customer service experience and creating a destination people want to visit again and again.
Saturday we plan on spending most of our day at Watkins Glen international, as the racing will be in full swing. The first cars on track will be the Porsches, then practice for the WeatherTech Championship. Just before noon The Esses 120 Michelin Pilot Challenge race begins. Lots of qualifying the afternoon for the WeatherTech Championship, then a Lamborghini Super Trofeo race.
Throughout the day, we will spend time in the Ford Performance tent, take a pre-race open grid fan walk down pit lane, and attend an autograph session with the race teams and drivers at their team transporters in the Paddock area. Most importantly, and if you are parked in the Mustang Corral, on Saturday you will have a chance to drive the Watkins Glen International track! These are not your standard 20 mph parade laps, but Touring Laps where ‘highway speeds’ will be allowed.
For those looking for still more, there is an optional boat cruise on Lake Seneca that you can shoehorn into the afternoon if you desire. A visit to Seneca Lake is not complete without stopping at Captain Bill’s, located at the southern end of Seneca Lake. Captain Bill’s provides a magnificent view, and offers many other breath taking experiences. Take a sightseeing cruise and explore Seneca Lake aboard the Seneca Spirit . Once aboard the Spirit, their Captain and 1st mate will take you back with a historical narration and show you the sights.
Discover the beauty and charm of Seneca Lake as it can only be seen from the water. You will be captivated by Hector Falls at 165 ft., the majestic cliffs of the east shore with Native American paintings, and a view of the salt industry. The sights and sounds of this ageless body of water invite you aboard for a one hour cruise, a tradition since 1908.
Saturday evening our dinner will be hosted at the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum. A bicycle and motorcycle racer, engine expert, aviation pioneer, and overall early engineering wiz, Glenn Curtiss was the embodiment of creative genius and growth mindset. He never let his inability to accomplish a project stop him from reaching towards his goals, and that determination is what led him to becoming The Fastest Man on Earth, The Father of Naval Aviation, and changing the world of aviation.
The museum houses a collection of historic bicycles, motorcycles, automobiles, and airplanes, all with a connection back to Curtiss, and some other well known individuals of the time.
For Glenn H. Curtiss, building and selling airplanes was not enough. He wanted people to understand the idea and beauty of flying his aircraft. Starting with the first sale of an airplane to the Aeronautical Society of New York in 1909, he agreed to teach two of its members, Charles Willard and Alexander Williams, how to fly. These men were his first students. It was clear to Curtiss that teaching people to fly had the ability to open new doors to sales and lead to new improvements as well as a better understanding of science and flight. 1910 set a landmark in the opening of the Curtiss School of Aviation in Hammondsport, New York and San Diego, California. Rarely was anyone turned away. By 1916, people from all walks of life were attending one of ten locations across the country. The Curtiss School first trained U.S. Navy pilots, helping to create a strong Air Wing of the military. With newspapers taking notice of its vast diversity, the schools were no longer viewed as a curiosity, but instead recognized and declared a “ wonder of the century“. With the outbreak of World War I in 1914, many of the schools and instructors would become extensions of the military. These flying schools trained some of the finest aviators the world had ever seen. Afterwards, the Curtiss Flying Schools merged into the Curtiss Flying Service, continuing well up to the beginning of World War II.
Sunday is the big race that we have been building up to all weekend at Watkins Glen International, The Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen for the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship! The day starts with a Cars & Coffee in the Mustang Corral right next to the Ford Performance hospitality tent, followed by an open grid fan walk down pit lane to view all the cars that will be competing. At noon there is a formation lap to warm up the cars, then the race is on! Six hours later, the champion will be crowned.
We will meet in the Ford Performance tent for a ‘brown bag’ luncheon, meaning you are free to pack your own lunch, bring in a sandwich from a local deli, or purchase something from one of the food vendors at the track. After lunch stay as long as you like, and hopefully join us late in the day as the light fades, and we celebrate Fords victory over their formidable rivals after six grueling hours of endurance racing at Watkins Glen!
HPDE / Track Registration at Pineview Run – $350.00/person
- Full day HPDE open track experience on a private boutique track
- Individual run sessions for Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced drivers
- Access to clubhouse and covered patio areas
- Limited number of instructors available for ride alongs and in-car coaching
- Medical/Safety staff on-site and full course corner workers
- Lunch will be available at the track for purchase
- Event track insurance will be available
Touring Laps at Pineview Run – $150.00/person
- Full day limited speed driving experience on a private boutique track
- Perfect opportunity for first time track drivers who want to experience driving their own vehicle in a dedicated track environment (you will become hooked after your first session)
- Paced highway speed follow-the-leader type lap sessions to keep you, and your car, safe while giving you a taste of performance driving
- Access to clubhouse and covered patio areas
- Limited number of instructors available for ride alongs and in-car coaching
- Medical/Safety staff on-site and full course corner workers
- Lunch will be available at the track for purchase
- Event track insurance will be available
General Admission to Watkins Glen & Dinner Registrations – $360.00/person
- 4-day admission ticket to Watkins Glen International (does not include parking, which can be purchased directly from Watkins Glen International)
- Admission to Ford Performance Hospitality Tent, cold drinks and snacks all weekend, trackside on the outside edge of turn 11
- Invitation to sign up for Ford specific raffles and awards including Driver meet-n-greets, hot pit tours, Michelin tire workshop tours, and hot laps with professional Ford drivers.
- Open grid fan walks down pit lane
- Autograph sessions with drivers and teams in the paddock area
- Friday evening dinner and program at 3 Brothers Winery & Estates, including entry into Cars Under the Stars Car Show
- Saturday evening dinner and program at The Curtiss Museum, including entry into Show & Shine display
- Weekend credentials, Lanyard, ID badge, and surprise gift
- Host Hotel information will be sent as part of your registration confirmation email. We have rooms blocks set up in three different hotels in the Geneva area.
- NOTE: This does NOT include the Touring Laps of Watkins Glen International on Saturday. You must have Mustang Corral parking to participate in the Touring Laps (see below for eligibility)
Mustang Corral Club Parking at Watkins Glen- $83.25/vehicle
- You will need to sign up for this option directly with Watkins Glen International
- 4-day parking in The Mustang Corral, conveniently located right next to the Ford Performance Tent, trackside on the outside edge of turn 11
- Drive your car on the Watkins Glen International track as part of the Ford Touring Laps on Saturday
- Participate in Sunday morning Cars & Coffee
- Admission is strictly limited to Mustang’s and other select Shelby vehicles. If your vehicle is not Mustang based, but you feel it would add to the festivities, PLEASE contact me first for verification before signing up. This will avoid drama and frustration if you have already paid, but show up in a Prius and we direct you to the general parking areas.
- Register here: ISM | Watkins Glen International
Poker Run Registration – $75.00/person
- Drive of old historic Watkins Glen Grand Prix course
- Visit downtown Watkins Glen area with options to explore the Drivers Walk of Fame, visit the International Motorsports Research Center, and hike the gorge and waterfall trail at Watkins Glen State Park
- Stop at Pleasant Valley Winery to find out how actual Champagne (not sparkling wine) can be made in the United States, take a tour, participate in a wine tasting, and enjoy a catered luncheon
- Explore the Finger Lakes Boating Museum and learn about the historic boats built in the Finger Lakes region
- End the day at our dinner location, 3 Brothers Winery
- Commemorative Poker Chip and trophy presentation during dinner
Event Car Door “Meatballs” – $55.00/set
- 12.5″ x 24″ car door decals
- Specially formulated removable adhesive to not damage paint
- Individually numbered to specifically identify your car on track and while on the road tour events
- Pro Tip: Bring two sheets of precut flexible magnetic sheet material with you. Apply your decals to the magnets, then use your meatballs indefinitely in the future.
Seneca Finger Lake Cruise on Saturday Afternoon – $32.00/person
- You will need to sign up for this event directly with Captain Bill’s cruises
- Be captivated by Hector Falls at 165 ft., the majestic cliffs of the east shore with Native American paintings, and a view of the salt industry.
- Cruise length is about 50 minutes and departs from the downtown Watkins Glen area
- Parking is limited at the dock, so you may need to park in town and walk a few blocks back to the boarding area
- Given our schedule, I would recommend either the 1:00pm or 2:30pm tour
- Register here: https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/senecaharborstation/items/13606/calendar/2025/05/?full-items=yes&flow=14060
